Brightest planet in solar system

The new S560e variant in Mercedes-Benz's S-Class lineup is the first to feature the automaker's third-generation plug-in hybrid system, which has not only been tuned for efficiency but also improved power and electric range compared to the second-generation system found in the outgoing S550e. The third-gen system consists of a 3.0-liter V-6 which works together with a single electric motor integrated with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The combined output is 476 horsepower but the electric motor, which has an output of 120 hp, has the ability to drive the wheels on its own. In electric mode, the system can carry the S560e approximately 30 miles thanks to a 13.5-kilowatt-hour battery. The top speed in this mode is only 80 mph but with the V-6 kicking in the top speed rises to 155 mph. Because of the modular nature of Mercedes' third-gen plug-in hybrid system, it can be used in a variety of models. Mercedes confirmed Wednesday that the system will feature in the C-Class up, though … [Read more...] about Mercedes-Benz S560e’s plug-in hybrid system to filter across to C- and E-Class

Marcia Dunn Associated Press Published 2:13 PM EDT Oct 3, 2018 Cape Canaveral, Fla. – Astronomers may have found the first moon outside our solar system. Two Columbia University researchers presented their tantalizing evidence Wednesday. Plenty of planets exist beyond our solar system, but a moon around one of those worlds has yet to be confirmed. The potential moon would be considerably larger than Earth – about the size of Neptune or Uranus. The planet it orbits is as big as mammoth Jupiter. This apparent super-size pairing of a gaseous moon and planet is 8,000 light-years away. Study authors Alex Teachey and David Kipping say they may be able to validate this particular candidate as early as next year, with more views from the Hubble Space Telescope. In the meantime, they’re encouraging other scientists to join in. Their findings appear in the journal Science Advances. … [Read more...] about Have astronomers found 1st moon outside our solar system?

The moon has captured humans’ imaginations for thousands of years — but an astronomical number of questions remain about its history, and the history of our solar system. Some of the answers lie in the craters that pockmark the moon’s surface. And with deep learning, scientists are able to see these craters more clearly than ever before. Think of crater research as “solar system archaeology,” says astrophysicist Mohamad Ali-Dib, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Toronto’s Centre for Planetary Sciences. Studying craters is a particularly useful way to study airless environments like the moon, Mercury and Mars, where topographical features remain relatively unchanged over time due to a lack of weather and geologic activity. Taking a closer look at these craters provides scientists with important clues about both the history of that crater and the evolution of the solar system. But until now, craters were counted and measured by hand using … [Read more...] about Counting Craters: Come On, Come On, Look a Little Closer — at Solar System History

According to a study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, built-in infotainment systems are a lot more distracting to drivers when compared to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As part of the study, the organisation teamed up with researchers from the University of Utah to evaluate five 2017-2018 MY vehicles – Honda Ridgeline, Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Silverado, Kia Optima and Dodge Ram 1500. What they discovered was it took less time to complete complex tasks with systems from Apple and Google – 24% (five seconds) faster when making a call and 31% (15 seconds) faster when programming a navigational route. Those few seconds are significant as the organisation points out that “drivers who take their eyes off the road for more than two seconds double their risk of a crash,” adding that distracted driving is responsible for more than 390,000 injuries and 3,500 deaths every year. “Google and Apple are proving that it is possible to reduce the level of … [Read more...] about Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are less distracting than built-in infotainment systems

Who here likes planets? I know I do—hell, I even live on one! I suspect there’s many fellow planet-enthusiasts out there, which is why I decided to do this: try and find cars named for every planet in our solar system, including our disrespected pal, the dwarf planet Pluto. Aside from a couple of well-known examples, this was trickier than you’d expect. Since you, my charming, attractive readers are too good for some simple text-based list that a miserable animal could slap out on a keyboard, I made you a chart of my findings: If you want a link to it nice and big, you can click right here. By far the best known of these are two now-defunct American car brands, Ford’s Mercury and GM’s Saturn. Mercury also provided a sort-of entry for the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, the Mercury Meteor. Oh, and I know it’s only a meteor/meteorite if it enters an atmosphere, geeks, so save it. The next reasonably well-known car is probably the Jowett … [Read more...] about These Are The Cars Of The Solar System